Canada and the Pacific: where to from here?

Despite a sustained history of effective and innovative development assistance to the South Pacific, the Canadian International Development Agency, Canada's main vehicle for contributing to social, economic and political development in impoverished nations around the globe, is closing the doors on its bilateral development programme in the South Pacific. In a bid to "enhance aid effectiveness" by narrowing the focus of its aid dollars to just nine developing nations worldwide (six of which are in Africa, and none of which are in the South Pacific), CIDA stands to radically alter the strong and unique character of Canadian cooperation that Pacific islanders have so much appreciated over the past 30 years.

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While it would be a mistake to suggest that Canada's contribution to the South Pacific has been financially significant over the years (contrast the approximately $6 million annually to all 14 Pacific Nations combined, to the record $616 million Canada has committed to Afghanistan alone for humanitarian and peace building from 2001-2009), one can hardly suggest that it has been trivial. Canadian aid has supported a range of dynamic programmes that have had a long-term and critical impact on communities across the Pacific. Readers of Tok Blong Pasifik will remember, for instance, the work of the women of Wainimate, the Women's Association for Natural Medicinal Therapy in Fiji. With support from CIDA, PPP worked with Wainimate to promote the legitimacy of, and access to, traditional medicine among both health practitioners, and the general public. Wainimate established hundreds of herbal medicinal gardens within urban hospitals and rural health centres, trained nurses, doctors, and dentists in their use, and developed national legislation that effectively integrated the provision of traditional medicine within the national health care strategy and delivery programme of Fiji.

Similarly, the Canada-South Pacific Oceans Development programme, which received $28 million over the past 14 years, leveraged Canadian expertise to strengthen the management of ocean resources and thus the sustainability of community-based fisheries in the Pacific. And the Anglican Church of Canada, CUSO, the United Church of Canada, and many other Canadian-based organizations have, with CIDA's support, developed deep and reciprocal relationships with community-based organizations, supporting unique and creative processes for women's empowerment, democratic development, peace, and environmental stewardship.

In short, with very few resources, Canada has made a difference, building good will, supporting local governance, improving the lives of women, and affecting, in a very real way, the direction of community development throughout the Pacific.

CIDA has suggested that Canada will maintain a presence through offices in Canberra and Wellington, to which community-based organizations in the Pacific can apply annually for funding. Worth $2.5 million in 2002-2003, and available only to Pacific-based organizations, this money was allocated to 131 local groups for varied initiatives in areas like health care, agriculture, infrastructure and education. Yet 29 years of development cooperation with organizations in the South Pacific tells us that this offer of assistance represents a radical shift away from the prolonged, long-term support to innovative processes that has typified Canadian international cooperation. Beyond the need for financial resources, Pacific islanders demand a measure of solidarity and trust, and a long-term investment in their struggles for fundamental change.

And indeed, Canadian development organizations have long worked in common cause with their Pacific counterparts, amplifying their calls for justice in the face of dismal human rights abuses (West Papua), strengthening their demands for peace through support to broad-based peoples movements (Bougainville, East Timor), enhancing women's access to decision-making processes and their position in the realm of science and technology (Fiji), and investing in long-term environmental education and leadership programmes (Solomon Islands). Rooted in strong, trusting, long-term partnership principals, these (often CIDA-funded) initiatives have been successful precisely because they transcend the relationship of donor/ recipient, recognizing the interconnectedness of peoples lives around the globe, and our role in Canada as global citizens.

If CIDA fails to recognize this reality of development in the South Pacific, their Canadian partners, and our broad constituencies, surely do recognize this reality. Through consistent financial and moral support, Canadians continue to demonstrate to us that they care about the South Pacific, and that they are willing to invest, as global citizens, in the long-term, protracted struggles of peoples and communities in this part of the world. With their support, PPP and our varied partners in Canada, will explore new ways and new resources to continue to sustain development efforts in the Pacific. It is this passionate commitment to Pacific peoples that has characterized Canadian relationships with Pacific islanders for close to three decades. PPP will continue to honour that commitment, creatively and resourcefully, in the years to come.